Boyel stone thomas



KModel.)

B. s. THOMAS.

ANIMAL POKE.

No. 275,732, Patented Apr. 10,1883.

INVENTOR WITNESSES ATTORNEYS.

N. PETER}. Mata-Lithographer. Washingten, D, C

UNITED STATES PATENT O FICE.

BOYEL s. THOMAS, or wAvERLY, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO con BROTHERS,

' F SAME PLACE.

ANIMAL-POKE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 275,732, dated April10, 1883.

Application-filed November 23, 1882. (ModeL) .To all whom it mayconcern:

Be it known that I, BOYEL STONE THOMAS, of Vaverly, in the county ofMorgan and State of Illinois, have invented a new and ImprovedAnimal-Poke, of which the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription.

The object of my invention is to provide-a device to prevent cattle fromrunning down or jumping fences, fighting, pushing other stock,

[0 drinking their own milk, running through brush, and which at the sametime permits them to graze and drink at will.

The invention consists in a poke hinged to a board which can be fastenedby means of 1 straps on the forehead of the animal, on which board aspring is secured, the lower end of which terminates in a prong passingthrough the board. When the animal strikes against a fence or anotheranimal with its head the spring-prong will be forced through theaperture in the board, and will prick the animals nose. The springimmediately withdraws the prong as soon as the pressure on the poke isremoved.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings,forming part of thisspecification, in which similar letters of reference indicatecorresponding parts in both the figures.

Figure l is a perspective view of my im- 0 proved animal-poke, showingthe manner in which it is applied. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal elevation ofthe same.

A board, A, is provided at one end with an eye or loop, B,on each side,through which 3 5 loops straps O are passed, which are passed around thehorns of the animal. A strap, D, secured to or passing transverselythrough the lower part of the board A, is adapted to be passed looselyaround the nose and jaw of the animal, so as not to prevent the animalfrom grazing or drinking. A bar or poke, E, is pivoted to the upper endof the front of the board, which poke projects considerablybeyond thelower end of the board A. A 5 spring, F, secured to the outer or uppersurface of the board A, at the middle or upper end of the same, has itslower end pointed and bent to form a prong, G, which passes through anaperture, H, in the lower end of the board A. The springFis ofsuchstrength that it keeps the poke E from the outer surface of the board A,and keeps the point of the prong G from the inner surface of the boardA. If the animal runs against a fence or brush or strikes other animals,the poke E 5 will be pressed against the board A, and the point of theprong will be forced into the nose of the animal. The pain producedcauses the animal to desist from making further at tempts of theabove-described nature.

The device does not interfere with the waterin g and grazing of theanimal. If attached to cows and goats, it prevents them from fighting,running against fences or through brush, and from sucking themselves. Itis especially adapted for breeding-bulls, as they are very vicious andgreatly inclined to butt and worry other stock and to ruin fences.

I am aware thatit is not new in animalpokes to use two converging andend-cross- 7o ing pieces suspended from a cross-piece attached to thehorns and provided with plates extending in front of the eyes, or tocombine pins, spikes, a spring, and a fastening with a block, or to makea calf-muzzle with means 7 5 for suspension and a barbed spring-tongue.

I am aware that it is not new to hinge two plates together at one end,provide the outer one with spikes, the inner one with holes, and keepthem apart with a spring, said plates being fastened on the breast ofthe animal; but

What I claim as new and of my invention is- 1. The combination, with theboard A and the poke E, hinged to the same andprojecting beyond thelower end of the same, of devices for holding the ,board to the nose andhorns of the animal, and of the spring F, terminating in a prong, Gr,passing through an aperture in the board A, substantially as hereinshown and described, and for the purpose set forth. v

2. The combination, with the board A and the poke E hinged to the same,of the loops B, the straps O and D, and the spring F, sub- 5 stantiallyas herein shown and described, and for the purpose set forth.

3. The board A, having side loops at one end and a transverse hole atthe other, in

combination with buckle-straps C D,whereby r00 the board may be sofastened as to'bring it vided with a bent pointed end extending betweenthe horns at the top, between the through a hole, H, in the board,whereby the [0 eyes about the middle, and rest on the nose animais nosewill be prieked whenever he at the lower end, as shown and described.tries to push against a fence or other object.

4. The combination, with theface-board and BOYEL STONE THOMAS.

thereto hinged bar E, of the intermediate Witnesses:

spring, G, made fast at one end to the board, 0. G. TURNER,

extended down nearly to the bottom, and pr0= J. E. NICHOLSON.

